Study: Shopping Sheds 15,000 Calories

Online shopping just got a pointy boot to the head: A new British study found that women burn around 15,000 calories a year shopping. One caveat -- the study also found that most women consume up to 1,000 calories per shopping spree, counteracting their retail calorie-burning. The moral of the story? Pack an energy bar, skip the greasy food court fare, and shopping may be the one workout regimen you can actually stick with. Source

The Food and Drug Administration in the Philippines recently issued a warning to the public about washable hair chalks sold online, saying the unregulated products may contain ingredients that cause allergic reactions if they come into contact with the scalp, head, eyes or skin. Source

A new test developed by researchers at King's College can predict how people will age based on the presence of certain metabolites in their blood. The study identified 22 different metabolites found in human blood that are known markers for chronological aging. The study was focused on improving the ability to predict age-related diseases ... so, no, this doesn't mean a blood test will reveal when those wrinkles and grey hairs will show up. Source

Twinkies are back on the shelves today, and die-hard fans of the "cream"-filled sponge cake are balking about the shrinkage. The new Twinkie has been downsized from 15 ounces to 13.58 ounces, a whopping 15-calorie difference in a food that will never fall into the category of "healthy," no matter what size it is. The new owners of Hostess Brands say the slim-down was in the works long before the company changed hands, along with another technological feat: the recipe was tweaked to extend a Twinkie's shelf life from 26 days to 45 days. Source

We're keeping a close eye on this news: a team of researchers at Imperial College in England created a pill that mimics the effects of a gastric bypass by sending messages to the brain telling it you're full. Because the pill dosage can be tailored to fit an individual's weight loss needs (something only achieved by follow-up surgeries with gastric bypass), the researchers are hoping the treatment will be a safer, more feasible weight loss option. The team received an additional £2 million for further research, so stay tuned. Source